Hanger for bubble lights



July 15, 1958 J. BAUMCHEN 2,842,879

HANGER FOR BUBBLE LIGHTS Filed Jan. 18. 1956- INVENTOR- z: a JOSEPH BAUMCHEN l SI. BY

kw 01,6; @K M I A TORNEYS nited States r 2,842,879 HANGER FOR BUBBLE LIGHTS Joseph Baumchen, Chicago, Ill. Application January 18, 1956, Serial No. 559,908 1 Claim. 40,106.21

lower end thereof enclosing a light bulb. The bulb not only serves to illuminate the ornament but the thermal energy emitted from the bulb produces an animated bubbling effect which enhances the attractiveness and ornamental effect achieved.

Heretofore, illuminated bubbling devices of the type referred to have been attached to the branches of Christmas trees by clips or by means of the electric wires connected to the socket in which the bulb of the bubbling device is carried. Under such circumstances, the transparent envelope or tube will frequently be canted out of an upright position. Since the attractiveness of the bubble light ornament depends, in a large measure, upon the characterization effected by the slowly rising bubbles formed in the low boiling point solution within the transparent envelope, it will be appreciated that there is a real need for a suspension means which improves over the prior art arrangements in that the bubble light ornament will always be maintained with the transparent envelope in an upright position.

According to the principles of the present invention, a support means is provided for a bubble light Christmas tree ornament wherein a support loop is positioned to provide point suspension on the center line axis of the ornament above the center of gravity thereof. By virtue of such provision, the ornament will be so suspended that the tubular envelope will always be positioned generally vertically and the decorative and attractive appearance of the vertically rising bubbles in the low boiling point fluid will be considerably enhanced.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide improved support means for a bubble light Christmas tree ornament.

Another object of the present invention is to provide suspension means for bubble light Christmas tree ornaments which overcome the deficiencies of the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a support means for a bubble light including an elongated transparent envelope which will operate to maintain the elongated envelope in an upright position.

Many other features, advantages and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description which follows and the accompanying sheet of drawings in which several preferred embodiments of suspension means incorporating the principles of the present invention are illustrated by way of example.

n the drawings:

Figure l is an elevational view of a bubble light accord ing to the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the bubble light of Figure 1 illustrating additional details of construction thereof; 7

Figure 3 is a top plan'view taken substantially on line III-III of Figure 2; 7

2,842,879 Patented July 15, 1958 Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the construction of Figure 2 with parts removed and with parts broken away illustrating additional details of construction;

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the support means of Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view with parts broken away and with parts shown in cross-section illustrating additional details of construction of the hanger device;

Figure 7 is an alternative form of hanger in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 9 shows yet another alternative form of hanger device provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention. I

As shown on the drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates the branch B of a Christmas tree and a bubble light ornament indicated generally by the reference numeral ill is suspended from the branch B by a suspension hook 1i conventionally provided for the purpose of hanging various ornaments on Christmas trees.

The bubble light ornament 10 is associated with a socket 12 having conductor wires 13 connected thereto. It will be understood that the socket l2 and the conductor wires 13 form a part of the usual light string employed in connection with illuminated Christmas tree decorations.

The bubble light ornament 10 comprises anelectric light bulb 14 having a metal screw-threaded base 16 which threads into the socket 12. i V

A hollow casing 17 is provided and in the form of the invention illustrated includes a generally annular lower neck portion 17a which diverges concentrically radially outwardly from the bulb i4 and merging with an enlarged annular body portion 17b. The casing 17' may advantageously comprise a translucent plastic material so that the rays of light emanating from the bulb 14 will be diffused by the casing 17. To enhance the decorative and ornamental appearance of the bubble light it), the body portion 17b is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs 17c and recesses 17d, thereby providing a corrugated peripheral surface. At the top of the casing 1'7, the body portion 17b converges 'into a'reduced diameter neck indicated at 172 through which extends an elongated transparent tubular envelope 18. l The envelope 1% conveniently comprises a transparent upright tube of glass having a'generally flat bottom wall 19 and a pointed upper end or tip 2t? at which the tube is sealed.

Within the tube is a supply of a low boiling point liquid 21.

As will be noted upon-referring to Figure 9, the envelope 18 extends into the hollow interior l7 of the casing 17 and the bottom wall 2% lies closely adjacentthe bulb i4- so that thermal energy emanating from the bulb 14 will ,be transferred to the low boilingtemperature fluid contained within the tubular envelope 18-. Accordingly, whenever the ornament is illuminated upon energization of the electric bulb l t, gaseous bubbles are forrned which ascend through the liquid 21 in the tube 18 towards the upper end of the tube 18. The liquid 21 is preferably clear in character although it will 'be appreciated that the liquid may be colored as desired and since the envelope 1% is transparent, rays of light from the bulb 14 will be directed upwardly through the tube 18 and the liquid 21 carried thereby so that the rising bubbles will reflect light and will impart an attractive pearly or jewel-like appearance.

' In accordance with the principles of the present invention, support means are provided for the bubble light ornament which include a point suspension support on the center line axis of the ornament 10 above the center of gravity so that the tube 18 will always be positioned uprightly and so that the bubbles within the tube rising through the liquid 21 will move on a substantially vertical axis at all times, thereby enhancing the attractiveness of the ornament 10.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 through 6, the suspension means or support means of the present invention takes the form of a generally U-shaped wire form member 22 having a bight portion 23 formed to provide a curved loop by means of which point suspension may be effected as at P (Figure 1).

The bight portion 23 is adapted to be positioned at the upper end of the envelope 18 and has two spaced parallel legs 24 and 26, respectively, extending generally downwardly in parallel spaced relation to the elongated tubular envelope 18. The ends of the legs 24 and 26 are attached in firm assembly to the casing 17, thereby to support the ornament 10 on the branch B of the Christmas tree.

Although th wire form member 22 could be connected to the casing 17 in many ditferent ways, it is contemplated according to the present invention that the present suspension means be employed with conventionally provided bubble lights and, accordingly, the structural provisions of a bubble light provided for ventilating the hollow interior space 17 of the casing 17 are advantageously exploited for support purposes as will now be explained.

As is shown in Figures 2 and 3, the casing 17 is provided with an upper row of circumferentially spaced ventilating apertures 27, the apertures 27 being disposed between the body portion 17b and the reduced neck 17e and facing generally upwardly. The lower neck 17a is also provided with an annular row of circumferentially spaced ventilating apertures indicated at 28. The upper and lower apertures 27 and 28 are disposed with respective pairs of apertures in generally coaxially aligned relation. It will be appreciated that the apertures 27 and 28 vent the hollow space 17 to the ambient atmosphere. The present invention connects the support means to the casing 17 through the apertures.

For example, as shown in Figure 5, the end of the leg 24 is offset to provide a retainer lug 30 and the end of the .leg 26 is olfset to provide a retainer lug 31. Both retainer lugs 30 and 31 are ofiset in the same direction and at approximately the same angle. v

To assemble the wire form member 22 to the ornament 10, the wire form member 22 is positioned with the retainer lugs 30 and 31 in register with a pair of oppositely disposed apertures 27. The lugs 30 and 31 are then inserted through the apertures into the interior of the casing 17 whereupon the wire form member 22 is moved so that the legs 24 and 26 are positioned uprightly and in generally parallel relation to the envelope 18. Accordingly, the legs 24 and 26 are then disposed in substantially coplanar relation with respect to the center line axis of the envelope 18 and the lugs 30 and 31 will be angularly ofiset with respect to such plane and will underlie the adjoining wall portions surrounding the edges or" the corresponding openings 27 in supporting relation. This is clearly shown in Figure 6 of the drawings.

In order to maintain the lugs 30 and 31 in supporting relation with the ornament 10, a ring member 32 is provided which closely encircles the legs 24 :and 26 and the tubular envelope 18.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 7, the support means comprises a wire form member 33 bent to provide a support loop 34 formed by the wire form member and including a downwardly extending portion 36 lying adjacent the tip 20 of the tubular envelope 18, thereby to prevent lateral movement of the Wire form member 33 relative to the tubular envelope 18 after the support means are assembled to the ornament 10. Thus, the downwardly extending portion 36 operates as a means to maintain the envelope 18 and the legs indicated at 37 and 38, respectively, in substantially parallel relation.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 8, the tip of the tubular transparent envelope 18 is clongated and shaped to form a hook 200, thereby providing a suspension point P affording point suspension on the center line axis of the tubular envelope 18 above the center of gravity of the ornament 10.

It will be appreciated by those versed in the art that the support means of the present invention can conveniently comprise any form of loop providing means connected to the ornament and providing a suspension support above the center of gravity. Thus, another form of the invention is illustrated in Figure 9 wherein two thin support members are indicated at 40 and 41, respectively. The support member 40 extends through a coaxially aligned pair of openings 27 and 28 and has formed on the end thereof an angularly offset lug 42 which overlies the edges of the opening 28, thereby, in effect, underlying the walls of the casing 17 in supporting relation.

The support member 41 has an otfset lug 43 which overlies the edges of the opening 28 in a similar manner. The support members 40 and 41, of course, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, provide a suspension support above the center of gravity of the ornament so that the transparent envelope will always be positioned in an upright vertical disposition.

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art and although other forms of the invention might be suggested, it should be appreciated that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention: 1

A bubble light ornament for use with Christmas trees, comprising an elongated bubble unit having bubbling solution therein and including a tubular transparent envelope adapted to be supported in upright position, a hollow casing enclosing the lower end of the envelope, an electric bulb in said casing in close proximity to the lower end of said envelope, and a support means comprising a generally U-shaped wire form member having a bight portion providing a support loop superjacent the upper end of said envelope to support the ornament on the branch of a Christmas tree, and having two approximately parallel spaced apart legs extending parallel to said envelope, said casing having a plurality of circumferentially spaced upwardly facing ventilating apertures formed therein concentrically outwardly of said envelope, the free end of each said leg extending through one of said apertures and into said hollow casing, an offset retainer portion on the end of each leg inside of said casing and underlying an adjoining wall portion of said casing in supporting relation, and means to maintain said envelope and said legs in substantially parallel relation comprising a ring member closely encircling said legs and said envelope, whereby the ornament will always be supported in upright position to maximize the decorative effectiveness thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,083,442 Engfer Jan. 6, 1914 1,476,036 Benjamin Dec. 4, 1923 2,296,746 Snyder et al. Sept. 22, 1942 2,500,899 Leahman Mar. 14, 1950 2,509,809 Cook May 30, 1950 2,514,164 Popp et al. July 4, 1950 2,517,197 Gill Aug. 1, 1950 2,569,078 Silver et al. Sept. 25, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 845,985 Germany Aug. 7 1952 

